Kroger Shopping Challenge + a $50 Gift Card Giveaway

Recently, Kroger contacted me and asked if I would like to participate in a $50 Shopping Challenge. As you know, Kroger recently stopped doubling coupons in all markets and instead have started offering lower prices on many items throughout the store. I’m going to be completely transparent here and say that I was not happy about this change – I love my double coupons and it has taken some time for me to adjust!

My challenge was to stretch $50 as far as I could using coupons, digital coupons and weekly sales/specials, so I sat down with my sales flyer and the Kroger Coupon Match Ups posted on my site and came up with my shopping list. (On a positive note, I do like that select Kroger Digital Coupons can now be used more than once per transaction!)

For this challenge my one rule for myself was to buy only items that I needed or would use – I was not going to spend $50 on items that I don’t need – I wanted this to be realistic. Thankfully, that did not prove to be difficult!

With the Memorial Day holiday upon us, I was in need of a few cookout items. We were also out of milk, bread and yogurt. My 4 year old has been bugging me for Popsicles, so those were on the list too. Thankfully, these items and more are on sale at Kroger this week.

Here are the items that I purchased at Kroger today, for a grand total of $49.36:

So what are my thoughts?With a little bit of planning and coupon clipping (nothing excessive) I feel that I was able to get a good value for my money at Kroger. I feel that Kroger is still offering competitive prices on groceries, although you’ll get the biggest bang for your buck when you take advantage of Kroger Digital Coupons and the Kroger Fuel Program. I miss double coupons, and for serious couponers I am not convinced that lower prices overall will offset Kroger taking that away (I do not have proof of this). The deals aren’t as good as they were when I started this blog in 2008 – but that is pretty much across the board – not just at Kroger. However, I still feel that the method of pairing sales with coupons and stocking up on items when they are at their lowest price is still beneficial – and likely always be. Kroger is still offering several great ways to save, and I feel that there are still many great deals to be found in their stores.

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Who is eligible?

You must have a valid US address and be 18 year of age to be eligible.

When does this giveaway end?

Friday, May 23, 2014 at 6PM EST

The winner will be chosen via the random number generator at random.org and will be notified via email. Please note that if I do not hear from the winner within 2 days that another winner will be chosen.

Good Luck!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Kroger. I received a $50 Kroger credit to make my purchases and was sent a $50 Kroger gift card to give away. Opinions expressed here are strictly my own. View my disclosure policy here.

I have found myself taking advantage of their digital coupons more and more as my life gets busier. I just don’t have the time to coupon as much as I used to. As food prices go up, however, I’ve been seriously considering how to make more time for it.

I have Kroger 123 reward credit card and I use it only to shop at kroger and at kroger gas station. This card doesn’t have any annual fees and I think because I have this card I receive really good coupons matching my purchases. some recent coupons were $2/10 for produce, $2.50 of 2 activia yogurt, $2.50 of 2 danon drinkable yogurts, $2/10 from meat department, 2/10 fish department, 5/50, 80 cents of rotisserie chicken, etc. Great part of these coupons that these are products I buy on regular basis, so these coupons help to save a lot.

The easiest way for me to save at Kroger is to match up coupons with the sale ad. Not as good as when coupons were doubled, but still better than shopping without a plan. Added to that are filling prescriptions and getting the fuel points for that.

I like that they have their ads available online. I find it easier to do my match-ups with an online ad so I am not fumbling around with the paper ad. I also keep a close eye on the discounted bakery racks because you can grab some real deals from there.

My favorite way to save is watching their sale ads every week and using my coupons, either my printables or ones I have uploaded to my card. I have also found many unadvertised deals there and used coupons with them

I enjoy shopping at Kroger. I pair coupons with their sales to save. I also keep an eye on their produce and meat departments for manager specials. I also receive coupons for free items from them from time to time which is awesome!

My ways to save are pretty much like everyone’s. Catching sales, using coupons, using the digital coupons, stocking up when there is a great sale, using the multiple coupons offered from their digital coupons to the max!

I save money at Kroger by shopping their sale items and stocking up when they hit rock bottom prices. I also keep an eye out for managers special. I love their digital coupons and their paper coupons they mail out as well!